Kelly Klima

Kelly Klima is a Senior Engineer and Professor of Policy Analysis at the RAND School of Public Policy. She specializes in decision analysis related to energy systems, climate resilience, and infrastructure. Her work focuses on energy transitions, natural gas decommissioning, AI's energy demands, and urban heat mitigation strategies. She holds a Ph.D. in Engineering and Public Policy from Carnegie Mellon University and is an adjunct assistant professor there. Klima's research spans global applications, including projects in California, Pittsburgh, St. Paul, New Jersey, Washington, D.C., and New York City. She has contributed to Congressionally mandated studies and leads the SUCCEED summer program for K-12 educators on climate and energy decision-making. Her expertise includes policy analysis, modeling, and resilience strategies for critical infrastructure.

Education: Ph.D. in Engineering and Public Policy from Carnegie Mellon University. Holds certifications as CFM (Association of State Floodplain Managers) and CCEA (International Cost Estimating and Analysis Association).

Research Interests: Energy transitions, infrastructure resilience, climate adaptation, AI's energy impacts, and equity in disaster response. She employs modeling and simulation to address challenges in energy systems, urban heat islands, and policy design.

Key Contributions: Co-authored reports on natural gas decommissioning in California, AI power demand projections, and cooling strategies for Los Angeles renters. Her work emphasizes actionable solutions aligned with long-term climate goals. She mentors summer associates and supports policy initiatives through RAND's research programs.

Labs/Teams: Leads the SUCCEED program, fostering STEM education and climate literacy among students and educators. Collaborates with federal agencies and international organizations on resilience and adaptation projects.